Like Most Texas School Districts, Katy ISD Falls Short of No Child Left Behind Targets

Like most school districts across the state, Katy ISD failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, targets this year, according to information released by the Texas Education Agency.

The AYP standards were established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which was enacted in 2002.

Only one Katy-area school district – Rosenberg-based Lamar Consolidated ISD – met AYP standards.

Districts such as Katy ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Royal ISD, Alief ISD and Houston ISD, fell short.

Seven of 10 districts across the state failed to meet the No Child Left Behind standards this year, compared with roughly half in 2011. The TEA attributed the change to “a substantial increase in requirements” to meet AYP standards.

Under this federal school accountability system, a school or district this year met AYP requirements if 87 percent or more of their students passed the state reading/English language arts test; 83 percent of their students passed the state mathematics test; 95 percent of their students participated in the state testing program and, depending on the grade level, had either a 75 percent graduation rate or a 90 percent attendance rate.

These requirements are comparable to Recognized or Exemplary level performance in the 2011 state accountability system.

No state ratings are being issued this summer because the accountability system must be retooled to use results of the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.

The state’s request to use a similar approach with the federal system and carry over the 2011 AYP ratings into 2012 as the state transitions to the new testing program was denied by the U.S. Department of Education.

Under the current structure of the No Child Left Behind Act, the passing standards in the federal accountability system must rise to passing rates of 100 percent on the mathematics and reading tests by 2014. This means steep increases in the requirements each year now through 2014.

Last year, a passing rate of 80 percent on the reading/English language arts test and 75 percent on math test were required to meet AYP. That year 50 percent of the districts and 66 percent of the campuses met AYP requirements.

Along with the graduation or attendance figures, 2012 AYP evaluations are based on 10th grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) results and scores on the STAAR tests for grades 3-8.

Because passing standards have not been set yet for the STAAR for elementary and middle school grades, the Texas Education Agency conducted a bridge study to determine the raw score on the STAAR that is equivalent to the TAKS passing standards. These equivalency scores were then used in the AYP calculations for this year only.

Using this methodology, 3,773 schools and 339 school districts met AYP requirements.

Districts or campuses that miss AYP for the same reason (reading, mathematics, graduation rate, or attendance rate) for two or more years and receive Title I funds move into the school improvement program and are subject to sanctions. Title I funds are federal funds that are to be used for the education of low-income students.

Non-Title I schools that miss AYP must revise their already existing campus improvement plans to address the reasons that the campus missed AYP.

The majority of Title I districts and campuses that missed AYP are in Stage 1, having missed AYP for the same reason for two years in a row.

Of the 513 Title I districts that missed AYP, 285 or 56 percent of them are in Stage 1 of the School Improvement Program.

Among campuses, 976 or 84 percent of the total 1,159 Title I schools that missed AYP are in Stage 1. These districts or campuses must develop an improvement plan and campuses must offer students the option to transfer to a school that meets AYP requirements.

Schools or districts that are in Stage 2-5 face stronger sanctions at each additional stage. A school that has reached Stage 2 sanctions, for example, must offer tutoring to its students.

The Texas Education Agency is revamping the Supplemental Educational Services or tutoring component in hopes of enhancing the quality of tutoring services provided to students. The new statewide SES system is expected to be available by the time school starts.

At Stage 5, which is the most advanced intervention level, a school must adopt an alternative form of governance. Fifty-nine schools have reached this level.

Along with offering transfer and tutoring options, a school at Stage 5 could:

reopen as a charter school;

replace all or most of the school staff;

contract with a private management company to operate the school;

turn the school’s operation over to TEA; or

adopt any other major restructuring of school governance.

If a school has been at Stage 5 for two or more years, agency staff will meet with the campus and district staff to discuss ways to revise the restructuring plan to make it more successful.

21 Comments

allknowingAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 3:52 PM

GEORGE SCOTT

I take great delight in letting conservative Republican groupies know that NoChildLeft Behind was the brainless child of George Bush the Son and his evil acolytes of Rod Paige, Darv Winick, Sandy Kress, Mike Moses, and others.

Without George Bush, there would be No Child Left Behind. Without George Bush, there would be no President Obama.

Without George Bush and corrupt Texas Republicans that drank his Kool Aid, this story would not exist.

As the late and great Ken Lay might say, “I sure like the way George Bush keeps his books.”

Texas Republicans. You are responsible for this. Democrats are not responsible. Liberal Democrats are not responsible.

Texas Republicans are responsible giving credence to the old sayig that goes something like this: “Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.” You got it. You deserve it.

determinedmomAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 4:27 PM

allknowing,

I have an issue with your statement. With respect, we are ALL responsible for the state we are in. I am not a democrat nor a republican. Just a mom doing her best. I too failed by not getting active sooner.

Also Clinton did have his part in Children First preceding No Child Left Behind. It is all of us that have done this. True facts though above and many should research what you are saying.

When we stop throwing stones and start looking at the facts and numbers I think we will all be very surprised at what we find. I know I have been very surprised at what I have run across lately. I just don’t think anyone will listen to how deep this goes. Or they will be to scared to stand up for themselves and tell this district no more.

By the way we all paid our taxes and I just received a call from the district that the kids will have to pay $70 dollars for a parking spot. We just backed almost 1/2 Billion dollars for the bonds Mr. Fraily rooked us into. I don’t consent to this nonsense anymore. Enough of the nickel and dime nonsense.

westsidebillAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 9:32 PM

determinedmom:

NCLB was 100% Bush. 100%. Clinton had NO SAY at all, as he had been out of office for 2 years by the time Bush got it enacted.

allknowingAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 8:56 AM

GEORGE SCOTT

Thanks Westside. We live in a country now that has become increasingly unwilling to accept responsibility for the consequences of past decisions. George Bush and his team did more to destroy public education accountability while expanded the role of the federal government in public education than Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, all of the labor unions in the history of the country.

Texas Republicans fell for the so-called Texas Educational Miracle as a source of pride. Now, the false pride disassociated from knowable at the time reality is coming home to hurt public education in Texas once again. Whatever Obama is doing at the Department of Education could not be a factor if Texas Republicans had not drunk Bush’s pleasing but toxic concoction of phony testing and phony accountabililty ratings over a decade ago.

Bush’s people didn’t actually create the tests, but they learned quickly how to use the phony standards to earn an e-ticket to the White House. And, when Bush got there, he delegated No Child Left Behind to Sandy Kress, a Democrat from Dallas, to negotiate with Ted Kennedy the new legislation that is now ‘saving’ American public education.

Wilfull bliss has consequences. Over 10 to 15 years ago, there were many of us who were warning Texas and the nation of what was being launched. Those warnings are well documented in the public record.

What is happening now was a predictable tragedy because it was predicted.

Hopefully, the Tea Party folks like Ted Cruz and others who are there or will join him in the U.S. Senate can begin reversing this. It is not likely, but hope must spring eternal because the downward spiral of public education is very near the bottom of the funnel.

westsidebillAUGUST 13, 2012 AT 9:00 AM

Yes, the last BOT election has probably made some upcoming decisions for me a lot easier – but we’ll have to see!

Whats upAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 5:29 PM

$70 for a parking space. Why is there a fee at all????

I assume it is because there are not enough parking spaces so you need a sticker and there are only so many stickers and we are selling those stickers for $70 each.

We also assume that if a car is in the student lot without a sticker, the vehicle is subject to search and towing and the parents will fork out another $225 to get the car back. What a racket for someone.

What do they do with the $70? It can’t be for parking lot maintenance. So what is the purpose of the $70 fee other than to remind us they can do whatever they want to us?

Roll it back to the cost of the sticker program and a couple of bucks for my lunch and call it a day.

westsidebillAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 9:31 PM

What’s UP:

Unless things have changed, the parking fees go into the grade-level class treasury of the students who chose to park on campus. $70 isn’t cheap, but some campuses are really limited when it comes to students spaces – so using the law of supply and demand….

The class funds end up going toward graduation costs, prom, ProGrad, or the vaunted “class gifts” back to the school = plants, art, banners, etc. For the most part, kids get back their money when they participate in these various activities. Best of all? They get prepared for the “real world” = parking stickers at college, contract parking downtown for work, etc. – isn’t that what school’s all about? ;)

WagnerJBAUGUST 11, 2012 AT 1:21 PM

Correct. Parking spot fees are graduated at most schools, cheaper for non-reserved (underclassmen), and more expensive for seniors, offering them reserved spots closer to entrances.The fees go into class coffers to pay for Prom, class gifts, etc.. Fundraising for each class begins during Freshman year and the classes raise money through pizza sales, coke sales, t-shirt sales, etc. for four years. ProGrad and ProProm don’t get any of those funds. ProGrad and ProProm have one year to raise funds for those events. Most people believe that ProGrad and ProProm get the class funds, and they definitely do not. ProProm/Grad are parent run booster clubs so are not entitled to the class funds. (Experience based on SLHS).

westsidebillAUGUST 13, 2012 AT 9:01 AM

Thanks for the clarification. I just knew that the funds generally get used by the students – just wasn’t 100% sure how.

allknowingAUGUST 9, 2012 AT 5:34 PM

GEORGE SCOTT

You can go back to Bill Clinton if you choose to pursue your hallucinations. Bill Clinton had zero to do with No Child Left Behind.

Bush the Son and his team of Texas thugs empowered by Texas Republicans are wholly responsible.

That you and millions others chose to be preoccupied does not absolve the realityof what happened and the impact that it has had.

Keep riding your good ship lollipop of denial. We are where we are as a nation because too many empowered too fee with too much unaccounted power. George Bush ran as the education president for his re-election to governor; he ranfor president on that platform; and he played kissy poo with Ted Kennedy in drafting No Child Left Behind.

100% fact. In your next life, concentrate on rewriting the history of the Hoover administration.

Do any of you folks ever argue facts? Or, is it always personality and cult-like allegiances?

killing U.S. from withinAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 9:07 AM

The NCLB concept is a warm and fuzzy feel good regulation that we wished would work. In reality, we are wasting valuable resources attempting to lift up those who do not wish to better themselves through education at the expense of those peak performers who could be lifted higher if they had the resources we are directing elsewhere. This endeavor is detrimental to our country’s long term interest.

wish4fishnAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 10:31 AM

why so much hate? ok, George W and his pals got this thing passed. great. where does that get us now?

yes, we should take responsibility for our actions and decisions. the important job is to admit there is a problem and fix it. and George Bush can’t fix this now. unless I have been misinformed, he is retired.

i’ve spoken to my representatives about this and similar issues with education. have you?

allknowingAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 2:39 PM

GEORGE SCOTT

You have a very peculiar way of defining hate. Correcting any problem requires understanding as to how and why the problem developed. If you believe that No Child Left Behind was an intellectual or academic exercise, you’ll never come to grips with reality.

NCLB was a political move birthed in Texas by Texas Republicans supported in large part by members of the Texas Business Council including Enron and Ken Lay who wanted a Texan in the White House.. They did not give a rat’s ass about education. But, they knew that the Texas Educational Miracle of George Bush was his ticket to the White House and their ticket to power.

That ran roughshod over the Rand Corporation that had turned against the Texas Education Miracle and they intimidated other groups and individuals large and small wiith punitive threats leading to silence during the Presidential election.

As Bill Proctor says, Ted Kennedy was the liberal icon who probably could not believe his good fortune in meeting a Texas Republican who shared his vision that the federal government’s role in public education should be greatly expanded.

Wish4fishn can spend a lot of time ‘wishen’ it were not so. However, if you want to fix it, you have to fix the turncoat part of the Republican Party that gets in bed with philosophical snakes.

It is not ‘hate’ to ask the question: Would you rather be stabbed in the gut by a liberal democrat (Ted Kennedy) when you at least have a chance to defend yourself, or would you rather be stabbed in the back by your friends that were not really your friends?

If you confuse hate with candid assessment of politics, then you are no better than a liberal crying ‘hate speech.’

We are about to enter into another period of our nation’s history where very powerful people – Republican and Democrat – are seeking to hold on to establishment power.

If you actually believe that this is a development where we need to adopt the Rodney King mantra of ‘can’t we all just get along?’, then you are clueless.

Bill ProctorAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 11:18 AM

NCLB was conceived by a small number in the Bush Administrations and supported in a bi-partisan fashion by Sen. Ted Kennedy. Now we have “Race to the Top.” also.

These programs, and others like them, are moving US Department of Education into a Ministry of Education, which is common to most socialist countries. Education is top down in countries like Great Britain, Sweden, Australia, France, etc.

The US Constitution makes no provision for Congress or the President to be involved in education. Often misinterpreted, is the general welfare clause of the Constitution, which has the federal govermnemt protect the general welfare of the states so that they can implement the tenth amendment. It does not refer to the genreal welfare of all people in the country, as liberals, socialists, progressives, and communists would have you believe.

sshermAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 11:19 AM

With all due respect, NCLB may have been a Republican program passed with bipartisan support, but it is not a conservative idea. The conservative approach to education is state and local control and accountability, not a massive federal bureaucratic leviathan. These results were totally predictable and will worsen until the limited power and prerogative of the federal government is recognized and embraced.

shempAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 8:58 PM

I guess I am a bit confused. How, exactly, did the schools in KATY perform on the STAAR tests? What percentages failed and passed on, gee — let’s see — the 9th grade Geometry STARR test at Katy High School? Anybody know?

PampAUGUST 10, 2012 AT 11:53 PM

Not all schools charge 70.00. I bought my child’s for 55.00 and it was a premium spot, regular spots were 45.00. You may also want to call the school and see where the money goes because ours does not go to the classes.

westsidebillAUGUST 13, 2012 AT 9:07 AM

Pamp:

Where does it go? What campus are you at? This is the first time I’ve heard it going elsewhere. Does it still go to student-driven activities/goods?

Mary McGarrAUGUST 11, 2012 AT 12:03 PM

No Child Left Behind is just the testing arm of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) which was implemented to make sure that all the junk that was put in place by the Federal Government in the last forty seven years is working. Actually NCLB is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed in 1965 by President Johnson which got the nose of the Federal Government into states’ business. Before the NCLB was implemented in 2001, we had the Improving America’s Schools Act in 1994 during the Clinton Administration which was another reauthorization of ESEA. Also missing in this discussion is the School to Work Act which was passed during Bush II and has been almost put in place. Then the Act just disappeared so no one would talk about ii or be aware that it’s probably soon to be implemented in its entirety.

Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it?

Mr. Scott mentioned the Texas Business Council, but before and over that group was the Business Roundtable, a national organization which put up the funding to get all this mess started. Businesses need and require dumbed down, complacent workers who don’t demad high salaries–thus their interest.

What they hope is that no one remembers how we got here.

I would suggest that maybe the fact that our students in Katy did poorly on the “Standards” testing is a good thing. It just means our students haven’t been dumbed down quite enough to meet the requirements of NCLB!

I put the KISD schools and their AYP status on my web site. Go to http://www.marymcgarr.com, and it comes up on the first page. One can also read about the Business Roundtable by going to “Education/Business Roundtable.”

Today Mr. Scott has put forth a great idea regarding the true testing of academic endeavor in our schools. It’s posted in a new column on his website http://www.georgescottreports.com His idea has merit and common sense–qualities that will probably preclude legislators, central education agencies and other policy makers from considering it.

Unfortunately most do not get the fact that the government doesn’t want a lot of well-educated people running about and mucking up their plans for a socialized country.That they are becoming more successful with this plan as time passes is attributable to our public school system.

determinedmomAUGUST 11, 2012 AT 2:37 PM

Since I am banned from asking this to the School District can anyone help me find out if KISD is involved in this group. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/11/firm-that-paid-white-house-adviser-in-business-with-charles-taylor-tied/?test=latestnews